Argentina’s road to 2026 World Cup finals ahead of Spain clash New Jersey

Argentina’s last World Cup victory came four years ago in Qatar, where Lionel Messi finally captured the one trophy that had eluded him.

Facing back-to-back titles, Lionel Scaloni’s men aim to become the first country to retain the World Cup since Brazil won the title in 1962.

Unlike their victory in Qatar four years ago, Argentina’s path to the 2026 World Cup finals was a long one, needing extra time in two of their three finals to keep their hopes of a fourth world title alive.

The qualifying campaign for the three-time World Champions gave little glimpse of the drama to come, with La Albiceleste topping CONMEBOL and becoming the first South American team to book a place in North America.

Here, Sports mole takes a closer look at Argentina’s road to the World Cup finals.

Argentina’s road to the 2026 World Cup finals: Group stage statement

Group J was not expected to trouble the defending champions, and Argentina presented an unmistakable statement of intent.

Scloni’s side opened with habit Algeria won 3-0and Messi marking the occasion with a hat-trick that made him the oldest player in men’s World Cup history to score three goals in a game, surpassing the record held by Cristiano Ronaldo.

A comfortable 2-0 win over Austria followed before Argentina wrapped up the group stage with 3-1 defeat Jordan to complete a complete record.

Messi came off the bench to score on that third matchday, meaning the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner found the net in all three group games, and served notice that Father Time would have to wait a little longer.

Nine points out of nine secured top spot in the group and set up a round of 32 tie that will prove a bigger test than anyone expected.

Argentina’s path to the 2026 World Cup finals: Cape Verde is a threat

© Imago / IMAGO / NurPhoto / Jose Breton

Few would have given Cape Verde’s debutantes a prayer against the champions, but the Blue Sharks suffered the biggest shock in the history of the World Cup.

Messi opened the scoring in the first half, only Deroy Duarte drew level after a while, and the score was 1-1 until full time.

Extra time didn’t affect the game, with Lisandro Martinez restoring Argentina’s lead with a near-post strike within the first two minutes of regulation time.

Sidny Lopes Cabral’s beautiful shot then leveled the score at 2-2, a goal good enough to stand as one of the goals of the tournament.

Argentina’s superiority finally reached the second half of extra time, as Cristian Romero headed in Messi’s corner in the 111th minute and crossed Cape Verde’s Diney Borges to settle the contest.

That’s a 3-2 win come at the expense of any margin of error, Argentina need every bit of their pedigree to survive a full blood test from the World Cup newcomers.

Argentina’s road to the 2026 World Cup finals: Egypt turns the century

© Imago Images / DeFodi

The round of 16 match against Egypt in Atlanta looked set to end Argentina’s title defence, and for a long time it almost did.

Yasser Ibrahim’s header put the Pharaohs ahead, and Messi then saw a first-half penalty saved by goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir.

Egypt thought they had doubled their lead just before the hour mark through Mostafa Zico, only for the goal to be ruled out after a VAR review showed a foul on Lisandro Martinez in the build-up, with the decision sparking much controversy given how far the challenge took place from goal.

The reprieve was short-lived, as Zico scored minutes later, sweeping Egypt 2-0, leaving Argentina staring down the barrel of a dramatic finish.

However, La Albiceleste turned the game on its head with a late surge, as Romero headed home Messi’s goal in the 79th minute, before the Argentina captain equalized four minutes later with a first-time finish.

Enzo Fernandez completed the World Cup’s best comeback with a header in stoppage time, making for a superb finish. 3-2 victory and a place in the quarter-finals.

Argentina’s path to 2026 World Cup finals: Switzerland strengthened after Breel Embolo controversy

© Imago / Icon Sportswire

Kansas City played host to another piece of drama as Argentina faced a strong Swiss side in the quarter-finals.

Alexis Mac Allister headed the hosts ahead from Messi’s corner, but Dan Ndoye equalized for Switzerland in the 67th minute, leading to a tense finish that prompted VAR intervention.

Breel Embolo was sent off for his role after Leandro Paredes’ earlier yellow card was reviewed, leaving Switzerland to play the closing games with 10 men.

Argentina made their numbers count in extra time, with Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez both finding the net. won 3-1.

Argentina’s road to 2026 World Cup finals: Latest match against England

© Consport / Action Plus

An intriguing semi-final against England in Atlanta brought together two sides with plenty of history and scores to settle.

La Albiceleste had won their previous two meetings against the Three Lions, both of which came with their own controversies – Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal helping to inspire a 2-1 victory in the 1986 quarter-finals and David Beckham’s sending off in their round of 16 in 1998, when the South American triumphed.

As expected, this year’s semi-final started on a positive note, with 19 fouls recorded and not a single shot registered by either side in the first half, although there was plenty of football on display late on.

Argentina refused to bow out quietly, and Fernandez pulled them level in the 85th minute to complete the grandstand.

Deep into stoppage time, Messi picked out Lautaro Martinez with a direct cross, and the striker headed home finished with a 2-1 win.

Messi did not get himself on the score sheet, but his two assists marked him as the greatest player ever seen in the World Cup and made the number of assists of the tournament, second only to Michael Olise of France, who leads the way with five.

The Argentina captain also jointly leads the 2026 World Cup goalscoring charts with eight, equaling Kylian Mbappe, taking Messi’s all-time World Cup tally to 21 – the most in the competition’s history.

That tally of 12 goals puts the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner as the clear runner-up, an award he has won twice before and no other player in the competition’s history has won more than once.

Argentina’s road to the 2026 world cup finals: History is waiting to be written

© Imago / Latinphoto

Argentina’s semi-final win sets up the final against Spain at New York’s New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, July 19, marking the first time the reigning Copa America and European champions have met in the World Cup final.

The meeting also finally resolved the unfinished business between the two after their clash scheduled for March’s Finalissima – a traditional showdown between the champions of the South American continent and Europe – was canceled following the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, with Qatar deemed unsafe to host and no other venue agreed.

What that canceled match was about to bring will now happen on the biggest stage in football, as Messi finally shares the field with Lamine Yamal, the child he famously photographed bathing in a charity match at Camp Nou in 2007.

Vote in the Sports Mole World Cup 2026 Student Awards!

Cast your votes for the 2026 World Cup awards; from tournament player and rising star, to leading striker and major disappointment.

Voting will be open until 11pm UK time on Monday, July 20, and the winners will be announced on Tuesday, July 21!

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